New animal rescue looking for loving homes

A new animal rescue organization is looking to send some needy animals to new homes in the area.

Shores of the Mitten Animal Rescue and Transport, also known as Smart Paws Rescue, have made it their mission to give homes, health care and attention to some of the area’s neediest animals.

“We like to rescue cats that some people (think) are unadoptable,” group organizer Anke Schwenke of Midland said.

The group, which started in March, is currently working with cats, but Schwenke said they hope to open their operation to dogs and other animals down the road.

Schwenke said she and several friends saw a need in the area.

“We are a group of people that have been with some local rescue groups and we noticed so many animals needed rescuing,” she said.

Schwenke added that there are many good rescue groups in the area, but hopes that her organization can fill a need for many healthy animals, as well as those that need a bit of health care and a little more love to give them a quality of life.

“Unfortunately, lots of people are willing to put their cats down for silly reasons,” she said, adding that some pet owners who are moving often face the decision to put animals down instead of looking for adoptive homes.

Schwenke said the focus of her group is to help the cats find good homes. Although many of the cats are healthy, some of the animals in the rescue may have incontinence issues, or suffer from feline leukemia. She said it takes a special kind of person to care for an animal with such needs.

“These animals can still have a good quality of life if they are cared for,” she said.

She added that the new group is not meant as a replacement for animal rescues already in operation, but to help with overflow and special cases.

“We do work with other rescues too,” Schwenke said. “We try to work with rescues as much as possible.”

Schwenke said that her group likes to spay and neuter cats before giving them up for adoption, as well as affixing them with microchip identifications.

“This can really add up, but we want the animals ready for their new homes,” she said.

She said when a person adopts one of their animals, the group checks potential owners out as well.

“We check references. We want to make sure our cats are going to a good home,” she said.

Currently, Schwenke and five other people are caring for just over 60 cats.

When asked how long she was a cat person, Schwenke laughed.

“I did not even care that much about cats until about three years ago,” she said. She was visited by a feral cat who had babies in her yard, so she took care of the animals and got them spayed and neutered.

“I fell in love with them,” she said, laughing. “Now I am a cat person.”

Schwenke said one of the goals of the organization is to get in to a facility to better house and care for the animals.

“Our goal is to have a sanctuary eventually,” she said. “And then we will be able to care for more animals.” Schwenke said another goal for the team is to care for dogs as well.